Car Totaled have Question

[hunterridgefarm]

Someone ran a stop sign and hit my son's car. It would have been a lot worse if he had not done some defensive driving to avoid hitting the other person directly in the drivers side door. As it was no one was injured.

He drives a Subaru and it is in my name (I was getting ready to put the car in his name). The car had 85K miles on it and is a great little car, Legacy 2004 model.


The rear passenger door, passenger door, left front fender, lights and bumper will all need to be replaced. However the insurance company totaled the car. I am having them email me the actual list of parts needed.

They have offered $7,300.00 for the car or $5500.00 and we keep the car. The current place we had it towed will not fix a car that has been totaled. If it is just cosmetic I don't see and issue with getting it fixed but if the frame was damaged it will be a different story.

Question is, has anyone been in this situation and what did you do? I would need to have it towed to another body shop if they thought they could fix it for the $5200.00 estimate.

Also, I think I should be reimbursed for time to look for a new car, canceling the insurance, turning in the tag and having to buy another. It will take a while to find a car that was in this good of condition.

Has anyone recovered their cost in time and aggravation due to an accident that was not your fault? To me, I should be reimbursed to time off work to look for a car, go to the accident scene, leave to get the rental car, etc.

I am not asking for a large amount just maybe $2,000.00 more to cover my time, trouble, and expense. It was their fault not my son's.

 

[timswi]

Depending on your state laws, here's my understanding (and I could be wrong)...The insurance company is generally only required to pay for the value of the vehicle destroyed and any direct expenses associated. To get subsequent expenses covered you'd either have to have a rental rider on your insurance or request that from the other insurance company. The other expenses stated, you'd have to probably do a small claims law suit against the other insurance company. Good luck with that.

As far as repairing it..Most body shops don't want to deal with "R" titled cars as it is now based on the insurance company totaling it...There's just too much liability...Some smaller guys may be willing to fix it, but you'll probably have to sign some kind of release and get the vehicle fully inspected somewhere to allow the car to be placed under legal registration. None of this is easy anymore. I used to rebuild these all the time. Not worth it anymore.

If you could have caught the car before the total designation, the rebuild might be simpler.

I'm sure I'm dead wrong somewhere and I will stand corrected...Just my understanding of things.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

The other Insurance Company is paying for the rental car, however we had to wait 5 days to get it.

I think me missing work, tax, tag, and title for a new car is a direct expense associated with the accident. I would not have these expenses if it were not for the accident.

I left a message for the adjuster last Friday, but have not received a return call.

 

[bcp]

If it is just cosmetic I don't see and issue with getting it fixed but if the frame was damaged it will be a different story.

What frame? I don't think a Subaru has one.

All skin, no skeleton.

Bruce

 

[MossRoad]

What frame? I don't think a Subaru has one.

All skin, no skeleton.

Bruce

No and yes. Its not the traditional frame we are all accustomed to. It is contained within the body of the car, more like a roll cage frame. Probably about impossible to repair economically. Here's a good link that explains their body design.
What makes a Subaru, a Subaru: Subaru Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame

 

[timswi]

What frame? I don't think a Subaru has one.

All skin, no skeleton.

Bruce

Unibody, they can be pulled with mostly success...Worth it, dunno?.

 

[vtsnowedin]

You lose some on every accident your fault or not. Even if you get paid for everything it will show up in higher rates for you or your son later. I'd let them have it and go buy another as there is no shortage of cars new or used out there that haven't been wrecked. If you keep it and get it fixed up you run the risk of finding that something got stressed in the drive train that doesn't get picked up or fixed and fails shortly after your back on the road again. Cut your losses and move on.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

You lose some on every accident your fault or not. Even if you get paid for everything it will show up in higher rates for you or your son later. I'd let them have it and go buy another as there is no shortage of cars new or used out there that haven't been wrecked. If you keep it and get it fixed up you run the risk of finding that something got stressed in the drive train that doesn't get picked up or fixed and fails shortly after your back on the road again. Cut your losses and move on.

That is the way I was heading. I just think I should be able to recoup the time missed at work and some expense for looking for a car.

 

[rsallen]

What is the actual replacement value, the same add-ons, the same milage, same condition, etc?

I think salvage (that is totaled) value is generally right around 10% of blue book.
That figure probably goes a little up or down depending on the local market on individual makes but I think 10% is a pretty good working number.
$1800 sounds like a too high a price for salvage even if you have a market for the parts.

I'd pass, lots of good used $7300 cars out there.


Glad no one was hurt.
Here's hoping you and yours continue with good luck.

 

[timswi]

That is the way I was heading. I just think I should be able to recoup the time missed at work and some expense for looking for a car.

That's small claims stuff as I understand it..Not likely successful. You could ask your insurance company to fight for this. Based on my experience, they are hesitant or won't.